Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 42

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers, on this blustery day in Central Illinois. The wind speeds today make me think, yet again, of those in Kentucky and others who lost their lives over the weekend due to the tornadoes. Wishing their families and loved ones togetherness during this terrible time.

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I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on Dead Ahead, the latest book in the newest series by British thriller author Paul Pilkington. Here’s the opening to my post:

A detective handles a new case that confounds the whole department. As he digs into the clues, an older crime he investigated finds its way back into his routine with dangerous implications. Author Paul Pilkington returns with the third book in his Paul Cullen Mysteries series in the fast-paced satisfying book Dead Ahead.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf.

Speaking of books, I’m doing a virtual author talk for The Truth About Elves tonight for the Champaign Public Library. Attendance is free; you just have to sign up for the Zoom link. Get that info right here.

Also, if you live in the U.S. and would like your own autographed copy of the book, find out how you can do so by visiting my author website.

In the meantime…

Get the vaccine/booster.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

Show a stranger some kindness today.

Have a good day, readers. Stay warm and safe.

E.R.G.

Time traveling…

Hello, Write Edge readers! A funny thing happened when I went to visit my parents last week in South Carolina. I kind of time traveled — that is, I lost a week here on the blog, as many of you probably noticed.

Time with my amazing mom and dad is precious. It’s rare that I get to have them all to myself. I made a choice to put family first, and while I missed posting for you I think I made a good choice for me.

Now I’m back! (You all knew you couldn’t get rid of me that fast, right?)

First up, this week’s short fiction. I had a bit of fun with this one (the fact that I wrote it in the plane on the way home added to its charm.) Here’s an excerpt of my newest short story:

“We are gathered here today to join Paul and Carmen in holy matrimony…”

Who names their kid Carmen? You’d think she’s some sort of exotic beauty queen from Spain instead of from Sarasota. Her parents were probably disappointed when she hit ten and turned out so tubby.

Read the whole thing now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

This Wednesday, I have a new review for you. I’ll let you know what I thought of British thriller author Paul Pilkington’s latest work Dead Ahead. Find that review in the middle of the week on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Also this Wednesday, I’m doing a virtual author talk for the Champaign Public Library, and I’d love for you to join us. I’ll read from The Truth About Elves and answer your questions about the book or any writing thing that strikes your fancy. Click here for the Zoom link and additional information.

The reviews for Elves keep coming in, and the book is getting a lot of love! If you want an autographed author copy and you live in the U.S., find out how you can get the book for yourself. For readers in other parts of the world, there are plenty of options for you to purchase the book. Get all that info now on my author website!

Finally, on Friday, I’ll share my latest Instagram posts and what’s happening in my corner of the world, both writing and non-writing related. Find thumbnails of previous posts here on the home page, or go to Instagram and find me with my handle, @EktaRGarg. I’d love to see you there!

In the meantime…

Get the vaccine/booster.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

Show a stranger some kindness today.

Have a lovely week, readers!

E.R.G.

Instagram on Saturday!

Hi, Write Edge readers! I am in South Carolina visiting my parents, so I spent yesterday traveling here. I couldn’t post my Instagram posts, but I’ve posted them for you now. Check them out!

In the meantime…

Get the vaccine.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

Show a stranger some kindness today.

Have a lovely day, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review now up!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! It’s Wednesday — time for a new book review! Today I’m sharing my thoughts on Jodi Picoult’s brand new novel Wish You Were Here. Here’s the opening to my post:

A woman goes on vacation at the start of the pandemic and gets stranded. Away from her loved ones and her home, she struggles with whether her life is really on track and realizes she may want to chart a new course for herself. Jodi Picoult returns with her trademark attention to detail in a book that’s too self-aware with Wish You Were Here.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

And if you’re looking for something for the holidays that’s a fast read, please consider purchasing my debut novella, The Truth About Elves. You can read reviews of it as well as find out how you can order an autographed copy of your own (U.S. residents only) by visiting my author website.

In the meantime…

Get the vaccine/booster.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

Show a stranger some kindness today.

Have a fantastic day, readers!

E.R.G.

Here we come, December!

Hello, Write Edge readers, and a happy last couple of days of November! To my U.S. readers, I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving. We had a quiet holiday at home, but I had several projects on my plate that meant I couldn’t post my latest Instagram pictures on Friday. :<

I’ve made up for it, though, by posting them today. Among other things, check out the newest quote from The Truth About Elves. If you live in the U.S. and want an autographed copy, go to my author website now to find out how to get one. (Shipping, taxes, and fees are all included in your purchase price.) Also, read what others are saying about the book, and come discover the magic of the holidays with them. Find all the info you need on my author website now!

It’s the last Monday of the month, which means our writers’ showcase. This month I’m sharing quite the variety, including a story that had me grinning at its audacity. Find them now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

If it’s fall, that must mean a new Jodi Picoult novel and that’s what we get. Tomorrow sees the release of Wish You Were Here, a book set (and written) during the pandemic. On Wednesday you’ll get to find out what I thought of the book. Find my review on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

At the end of the week, I’ll be back to posting to Instagram and will do my best to squeeze in the Growth Chart I missed this past Friday. If you’ve missed previous posts, follow me now on Instagram by using my handle, @EktaRGarg.

In the meantime…

Get the vaccine/booster.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

Show a stranger some kindness today.

Have a great week, readers!

E.R.G.

Last Thursday R.E.A.D.s up a day early!

Hello, Write Edge readers! For those of you in the U.S., I hope you’re enjoying this Thanksgiving Eve (as in, not going too crazy over food prep for tomorrow.) We’re going to have a quiet family Thanksgiving ourselves with our favorite turkey dinner and sides. Plus, my older daughter is making apple pie for dessert. She’s turned into an epic baker since the start of the pandemic last year, so I’m really excited about what we’ll be enjoying at the end of the meal!

Because I’ll be a little busy myself with cooking/cleaning tomorrow, I thought I’d post the last Thursday R.E.A.D.s installment for 2021 a day early. This month I’ve taken a deeper look at the literary novel What You Can See From Here by Mariana Leky. Today’s post shares what I thought of the book as a Dreamer. Find it and all of the other installments here on The Write Edge Bookshelf.

Speaking of holidays, Christmas is coming and with it the frenzy of shopping. One of the reviews of The Truth About Elves called it the perfect stocking stuffer, and people have bought multiple copies for me to sign so they can give them as gifts. You can do the same by going now to my author website!

In the meantime…

Get the vaccine/booster.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

Show a stranger some kindness today.

Have a wonderful week, readers!

E.R.G.

Happy Thanksgiving week!

Hello, Write Edge readers! It’s Thanksgiving week here in the U.S. We celebrate this holiday every year as part of our history and use it as a way to gather with family and friends. It’s also a great way to eat some yummy food, and I can’t wait!

Before we get to all that, though, I have some content for you this week. First, this week’s short story. In the spirit of the holiday, I’ve written a short piece focused on the meal. Here’s a quick excerpt:

Fatigue rolled over Margie. She’d been up since the crack of dawn cooking, hoping that if she did everything the traditional way—or, as Blanche called it, the “right” way—that her mother-in-law would let some of the little things go today. Clearly she was wishing for things too early. Then again, this was Thanksgiving, not Christmas.

Read the whole story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

Next, I’m mixing it up this week. Normally I post my Thursday R.E.A.D.s on, well, Thursday. This week, however, I won’t have a new book review for you. Instead, I’ll post the last installment of this quarter’s R.E.A.D.s — as a Dreamer of stories and books — on Wednesday. Find previous posts on What You Can See From Here by Mariana Leky as I examine it from the lens of a Reviewer, an Editor, and an Author by clicking here.

In a fun Thanksgiving twist, I’ll post Instagram pictures on Thursday and Friday of this week. On Thursday I’ll share shots of our holiday meal as well as a new quote from The Truth About Elves. At the end of the week, you’ll get Instagram posts as well as a new Growth Chart with my parenting adventures. Find all of that on Friday!

Speaking of Elves, I’m truly grateful to all of you for supporting me in this dream come true. Have you gotten your copy yet? If you live in the U.S. and want an autographed copy, you can order it now from my author website.

In the meantime…

Get the vaccine/booster.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

Show a stranger some kindness.

Have a great week, readers!

E.R.G.

Newest Thursday R.E.A.D.s post now up!

Good evening, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest article for this quarter’s Thursday R.E.A.D.s. This week I examine What You Can See from Here by Mariana Leky as an Author. Find this and the previous two installments here on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have you checked out the latest reviews of The Truth About Elves? Are you thinking about ordering your own copy? If you’re in the U.S., you can get a signed one directly from me! For details on this and more info, go to my author website now.

In the meantime…

Get the vaccine/booster.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

Show a stranger some kindness.

Have a great night, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review posted!

Happy Wednesday, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Check out the opening to my post on The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding:

A family suffers through a series of attacks of vandalism on their home and struggles to understand who would want to target them. As the individual members of the family deal with their secrets, they each also harbor guilt that they’re the reason why people want to hurt them. Author Robyn Harding is back with characters who spend more time inside their heads and less time actually solving a problem in her newest novel The Perfect Family.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Also, earlier this evening I got a lovely surprise: SmilePolitely, the lifestyle magazine for all things Champaign-Urbana, did a great review on The Truth About Elves. Writer Debra Domal had some incredibly kind words about the book. Check it out now! After that, you can read more reviews and order your very own copy of the book directly from my author website.

In the meantime…

Get the vaccine/booster.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

Show a stranger some kindness.

Have a lovely evening, readers!

E.R.G.

Halfway through November

Hi, Write Edge readers. I’m writing this in a somber mood this evening. A short while ago, I read the news about the latest shooting in Aurora, Colorado, and I wonder when things will go far enough for our lawmakers and all the special-interest groups to finally get on the same page with the rest of us who have had enough. Truly. We’ve had enough. We had enough when the first child died, a child who shouldn’t have lost their life so young. I hope the children hurt tonight survive and that the criminal is brought to justice. I can’t even begin to imagine what their families must be experiencing.

With these thoughts in mind as well as the book I’m currently reading, my writing self kind of took this week’s story in a direction that I didn’t expect this morning when I found the prompt. Sometimes, though, when it comes to artistic endeavors, that’s the only way we can express ourselves. It leaves us feeling slightly less helpless.

Here’s the excerpt from this week’s story:

I started standing up for myself. Started answering back when someone made a snide comment or downright insulted me. Looked them straight in the eye instead of dropping my gaze to the floor like a hemline that had risen too far on accident.

Read the whole piece now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop.

In the middle of the week, I’ll share my thoughts on The Perfect Family by author Robyn Harding. I shared the cover this past Friday on Instagram as my #bookreviewpreview. Now find out what I thought of the novel. Check it out on Wednesday on The Write Edge Bookshelf.

On Thursday I go back to the Bookshelf to share my latest installment of this quarter’s Thursday R.E.A.D.s. This month I’m examining What You Can See from Here by Mariana Leky in more detail. You’ll get my thoughts on the book as an Author later this week.

Finally, back to Instagram on Friday with a brand new quote from The Truth About Elves and more from my writing and non-writing life.

Speaking of Elves, if you haven’t checked it out yet, please do. Your support is crucial for independent authors like me to continue doing what we love and feel called to do. Go to my author website to read reviews and find out how to get your own copy of the novella, including the opportunity to purchase a signed one directly from me. Find all that and more on my author website.

And please, readers, take care of each other.

E.R.G.